A 68-year-old man died in an early morning fire at a senior housing apartment in Des Moines' Highland Park neighborhood.

The Des Moines Fire Department identified the victim as Osman Suljic. His wife, who was not publicly identified, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Crews were called to the Highland Park Plaza at 3717 Sixth Ave. around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday to check on a fire alarm, said Brian O'Keefe, spokesman for the Des Moines Fire Department. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames coming out of a third-floor bedroom window where the elderly couple lived, he said.

Medics found Suljic on the kitchen floor. He was transported to an area hospital, where he died.

"Because of their age and limited mobility, she attempted to assist him and went for help but the smoke was too strong to regain access," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe said the fire started in the bedroom, but investigators have not yet identified a cause or autopsy results. The apartment, which is owned by the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency, does not have a sprinkler system.

But the complex does have fire doors that automatically close when smoke alarms turn on. O'Keefe said the fire doors helped prevent the fire from spreading, and the doors contained smoke and water damage only to the couple's unit and the two adjacent units.

"It's really surprising how little smoke damage you can see from outside the apartment door versus the bedroom, which is a mere 15 feet inside," he said.

The rest of the apartment complex's tenants were allowed back in their homes shortly after the fire was out, he said.

He estimated about $25,000 in "extensive damage" to the couple's apartment.